Obedience training at school

Deiota · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:05 am Post subject: Obedience training at school

Hello!
I desperately need your help!
Gandalf will be 9 weeks old tomorrow. I'm considering on a obedience school. i have a local one, with best references.
A few days ago I started house training with him, like sit, come and he responds as expected for a 9w puppy (the sit command is well responded if not too many distractions around).
yesterday I put the leash and start walking in the garage (he's not fully vaccinated yet..). he looked like a big bull, crazy.. didn't come to me, didn't walk at all... you know.
how do I train him the leash (for now, I only want him to walk on leash... later to heel straight and no push, right on my side...).
well, about the school, one trainer said it's not early to him to go there, as sooner the better.. what do you think? socialization would be good for him, I'm sure but it isn't too early to teach him? wont I blow it all away because it's TOO early?
of course, there are the health problems, he's too little to deal with adult? what about diseases?
please help me out!!
deiota

ange165 · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:18 am Post subject:

most obedience schools that I know of won't take a pup until they are at least 4 months or 14 weeks old and they are fully immunized.
I have only just began obedience with Ruby in the last fortnight.
Maybe start looking at puppy school for socialization which is more what your looking for. They start with basics like sit, down, come, watch (attention) potty training and other issues you might be having.
Puppy school will mean gandalf can socialize with friends his own age instead of being intimidated by the other big dogs. As I don't know your club, they might offer puppy classes or something?
Obedience school really requires your dog to have some form of basic training to start with (my club does anyway) like sit and down. There's nothing like practice practice!! (and a bit of a yummy treat)

For leash training just pop the leash on gandalf when you are at home (watching him) and let him drag it along so he gets used to the feel of it. When you start walking take some yummy treats with you. If he sits on his haunches and refuses to budge, crouch down and gently tug on the lead and call him happily. We went through this with Ruby and she got over this very quickly. I think most puppy's go through this at first.
Good luck with it all.. and most of all enjoy!!! Very Happy

ange165 · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:23 am Post subject:

oh and it's NEVER too early to start with training. You can start with the basics as soon as you like. We started with Ruby the day she walked in the door.

Deiota · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:54 am Post subject:

I start the basic training already.. with the sit before put the food in front of him, the no when he's doing something bad... well. that stuff!
the come is harder to teach now, since he doesn't care much for toys and ball.. just with kibble or a treat.
the leash is getting start using it... I'll play around with him for fun... this weekend to get him used to it.. but since he cant go outside its harder and boring.. Sad

the sit command is being well trained, he responds often to it! is it early to start the down command?
I'm getting confused about the order of teaching basics...
the first thing I taught was sit. perhaps down now? what about the come? and the stay? which order? how can I introduce a new one (how often)?
newbie... on training... sorry!
what about accessories for training? do i really need a long leash? 2 mts? a choke is early? will I need one or perhaps it's not necessary? I hate thinking about those collars..
thanks for your help!
deiota

Asarra · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:58 am Post subject:

When Storm would get stuck, just sit with her leash on. I'd run backwards acting goofy and she would usually get interested and follow me. At 9 weeks old, it was very hard to get her to concentrate even as long as 5 minutes. We had to work up very slowly. I used lots of praise, yummy treats and always finished with something she knew real well to build confidence. After training we always play with her favorite toy! I used to be disappointed because at that age she really didn't want to walk far (leash or no leash). That has changed considerably now at 6 months.

peppernaei · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:02 am Post subject:

I would also ask about a puppy class rather rather a class mixed with older dogs. The school we went to started puppies at 10 weeks and they had to have their second vaccination by the second week of class (12 weeks). I think it was really helpful as they covered bite inhibition, leadership, socialization and crate training as well as obedience.

It's never to early to start training and you can be working on a bunch of things -- you don't have to wait until one is perfect. I start with their name, sit, down, stand, off, waiting for food, shake a paw, very short stays, and any fun tricks that come up.

PamK · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:39 am Post subject:

I agree with the others about waiting until he has his shots before starting any classes, but I disagree about having to start with a puppy class IF the trainer you will be using doesn't care.

I started with my trainer after Derek at 4 months. We went to 2 puppy classes and then moved up to the regular classes. My trainer just modified what we did. For example if the big dogs were doing a sit stay for 3 minutes we would start at 1 minute. Weims are very smart and Derek learned a lot by watching to see what the other dogs did. That way he got his socialization with all types of sizes and ages of dogs.

At that age I think it doesn't matter which order you teach him commands just be consistent. I also think that 5 repeats are good and then move onto something else. The next time you go back to review what you have done start with what he accomplished on the second or third time and then move forward. For example if you are teaching come, start one foot away, then 1 1/2 foot away, then 2 feet, etc only moving further away if he continues to come. Don't hesitate to move closer if he isn't getting it. The next time you teach come start at 1 1/2 feet and move backwards accordingly.

Hope that makes sense.

Banshee13 · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject:

I agree. Puppy class as opposed to basic obedience. Personally, I took Scout when he was almost 6 months and I felt that it was too young. It got him used to "class" (he already was well socialized) but he cried and whined so much I couldn't wait for it to END! When he was 8 months old, I took him to Basic Obedience and he did MUCH better! I guess, like kids, it depends a lot on the individual dog.

Peri